Sunday, February 11, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
Although Walker Buehler is scheduled to start late in the 2024 season, he is healthy. The Dodgers want to manage his innings coming off his second Tommy John surgery, so he will be ready to perform in the postseason. During his major league career, Buehler has demonstrated an unusual ability to perform outstandingly in high-pressure moments.
The Dodgers selected Buehler in the 2015 Amateur Draft with the 24th overall pick. Since he needed Tommy John surgery, Buehler received a lower signing bonus than he would have if healthy. He worked hard at his rehabilitation and began pitching professionally in 2017. Quickly, Buehler moved through the Dodger minor league system. In September 2017, Buehler made his major league debut but struggled.
In April 2018, Buehler made his first major league start against the Miami Marlins and pitched five scoreless innings. On May 4th, he started and pitched in the sixth inning of the last Dodger no-hitter against the San Diego Padres. Despite spending time on the IL with a rib injury, Buehler performed well during his rookie season, including pitching the tie-breaker against the Colorado Rockies. Although he had a meltdown in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, he performed well during the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers and the World Series against the Boston Red Sox.
In 2019, Buehler established his status as one of the National League’s elite starters. He hit his first home run against the Saint
Louis Cardinals. Against the Rockies, Buehler struck out 15 in his first complete game. He was chosen for the National League All-Star Game. He performed well in the NLDS against the Washington Nationals even though the Dodgers lost the series.
Buehler had a blister, which limited him during the abbreviated 2020 season. During the expanded 2020 postseason, Buehler played an integral role in the Dodger World Championship, their first since 1988.
During the 2021 season, Buehler performed well, earning an All-Star selection and the National League Pitcher of the Month in July. Since he was overused during the postseason, he sometimes struggled.
Despite being the 2022 Opening Day starter against the Rockies, Buehler had a nightmarish season until June when the Dodgers put him on the IL. Originally, Dr. Neal ElAttrache removed bone chips from the affected right elbow, but the pain didn’t subside. Therefore, Buehler underwent a second Tommy John surgery in August 2022.
Although Buehler vowed to return to the major leagues during the 2023 season, he didn’t because he wasn’t bouncing back quickly after performances. The Dodgers shut him down in September.
This past offseason, the Dodgers revamped their starting rotation, but they are relying on having a healthy Buehler. Buehler needs to have his velocity to be in the mid-90s to be successful.
